SEPTEMBER 4, 2004

KING’S  FALLS TO ST. JOHNS FISHER

ROCHESTER, NY – Sophomore tailback Mark Robinson rushed for 179 yards and St. John Fisher fought off a late scoring drive to hold on to a 28-21 opening day victory Saturday at Growney Stadium, Rochester, NY.

Trailing 14-10 beginning the second half, St. John Fisher would begin its comeback by forcing King’s to punt on its opening drive.  The Cardinal special teams came up with a big play when, following a low snap, Jay Schickling blocked a Jeff Searfass punt at the King’s 32-yard line.  Fisher would move the ball to the three-yard line where Will Bean’s 19-yard field goal brought the Cardinals to within 14-13 with 10:10 left in the third quarter.

Fisher would force a punt and took over at its own 21.   On second down, Curt Fitzpatrick hit Noah Fehrenbach for 27 yards to the Cardinal 48. Two plays later the duo hooked up again for 17 more yards to the King’s 30.  Fisher moved the ball to the two-yard line where Robinson scored on the next play. St. John Fisher then executed a fake extra-point kick as holder Adam Cappatelli attempted to run and was stopped, but lateraled to Bean who would reach the end zone and give Fisher a 21-14 advantage with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter.

King’s later took over at its own 20 and attempted to march when Barnic hit Blake Letchford for 13 yards. Richard Jackson carried for seven yards, then picked up a first down with a five-yard carry.  On third-and-seven, Barnic found Jeff Cavagnaro for eight yards and first down at the Cardinal 44.  Fisher was then flagged for pass interference, giving King’s a first down at the Cardinal 33.   Facing a fourth-and-11 play, Barnic scrambled for 19 yards and a first down at the 15.   King’s would gain just two yards in three plays and faced a fourth-and-seven. From there, Barnic lofted a pass to Julian Walker in the corner of the end zone where the junior hauled in the pass for a touchdown.  Bobby Nawrocki’s kick would knot the score at 21-21 with 7:51 left in the contest.

 Fisher responded on the next possession when Fitzpatrick hit Adam Menter for 34 yards on a third-and-six play to the Monarch 30.  Robinson carried for 10 yards. On the next play, Fitzpatrick hit Fehrenbach on a lob pass to put the Cardinals ahead 28-21 with 5:02 left.

 King’s would begin possession on its own 30 with 4:54 remaining.  On first down, Chris Barnic hit Jackson for 21 yards on a screen play to move the ball to the Cardinal 49. Jackson then carried for 12 yards to the 37, followed by a 14-yard completion to Matt Nicodemus at the Cardinal 23. Two plays later, Barnic was sacked by Justin Webb to force a third-and 18 play with 3:08 remaining. A five-yard pass to Nicodemus set up fourth and 12 play.  Barnic’s pass attempt fell incomplete as St. John Fisher assumed possession at its own 23 with 2:25 remaining in the game.

King’s got of to a fast start when sophomore cornerback Craig Haywood intercepted Fitzpatrick at the St. John Fisher 28-yard line.  Jackson would later score on a two-yard run.  Nawrocki added the conversion to give King’s a 7-0 advantage with 11:57 in the first quarter.

Two possessions later St. John Fisher would take over and began to move the ball. Mark Robinson ran for 19 yards before Fitzpatrick hit Robinson on a screen pass down for 20 yards to the Monarch 16 yard line. Fitzpatrick later found Robinson for five yards and a first down at the Monarch three.  Two plays Fisher would score when Robinson burst into the end zone on a toss play.  Will Bean’s point-after kick knotted the score at 7-7 with 4:59 left in the first quarter.

 Following a King’s punt on the next possession, Fisher took over at the 50-yard line.

The Cardinals would come through on an important third-and-11 play from the Fisher 49, Fitzpatrick hit Noah Fehrenbach for 13 yards at the King’s 38.  Robinson carried for seven yards, but on the next play the Cardinals were flagged for an offensive pass interference penalty, moving the ball back to the Monarch 41. After two incomplete passes the Monarchs escaped by forcing a Fisher punt.

St. John Fisher would take over at its own 46 following a punt and would promptly move to the King’s 12 yard line  Two plays later  Fitzpatrick hit Mike Kallfelz at the two-yard line but the Cardinal tight end fumbled the ball into the end zone and Antonio Robinson recovered for King’s to end the threat.

 St. John Fisher took over at its own 42 following a Monarch punt and drove to the King’s 13 where the drive stalled.  Bean would then kick a 30-yard field goal to give St. John Fisher a 10-7 lead with 3:21 remaining in the half.

 St. John Fisher would force a punt and assumed possession at its own 28-yard line with 0:56 left in the half.   King’s defense came up big when senior safety Derek Zambino intercepted Fitzpatrick and returned the offering 41 yards to the Cardinal 16 with 0:20 on the clock.   On third down, Barnic would hit Nicodemus for a first down at the Cardinal five-yard line with 0:12 remaining. From there, Barnic found Walker on a fade route in the end for the Monarch score. Nawrocki’s conversion gave King’s a 14-10 led with 0:02 left in the half.

 Fehrenbach had five catches for 96 yards while Fitzpatrick threw for 212 yards.

Jackson led King’s with 118 yards on 37 carries while Barnic completed 17-of-33 for 152 yards in his first collegiate start. Walker and Nicodemus added six catches each for the Monarchs.

King’s returns to action Saturday when the Monarchs host Lycoming at 1:30 p.m. at Betzler Fields.

 

 

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Questions or comments to:  Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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